Suarez not willing to alter style

Barcelona's Luis Suarez has defended his aggressive style of play and said he tries to get opponents sent off if they are on a yellow card.

"I'm a difficult opponent but any fan would like to have a player like me," the striker said in an interview with Spanish daily La Vanguardia.

"And if you ask any opponent who has had to fight against me constantly if they would like someone like me as a teammate they would close their eyes and say 'yes'."

The Uruguayan's bullish behavior has come under the spotlight ahead of Barca's Copa del Rey semifinal second leg with Valencia later yesterday. The Catalans have a 1-0 edge. The winner of the tie will take on Sevilla in the final after it beat Leganes in their semifinal 2-1 on aggregate.

Sevilla won the second leg 2-0 on Wednesday.

Valencia coach Marcelino warned his players not to be provoked by Suarez, but the former Liverpool striker, who calls on-pitch rivalries "the essence of the game", is unrepentant.

"Here you have to take advantage of the small details. I can argue with a defender and I'll have a better chance of getting him sent off if I know he has been booked, and I know he will do the same to me," he said. "It's not that I'm old school, I'm just of the theory that if an opponent insults me, tells me I'm bad, says anything he likes or insults my sister, I will never go and cry to the media about it. I put up with everything, it doesn't bother me or hurt me, it's part of the game."